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Post by leannec on Feb 26, 2024 1:54:59 GMT
My Mum has decided that she is taking me on a vacation next winter!  She is 77 and walks with a walker ... she is very independent and capable but does have that important fact ... I will be 57 and have no physical issues to speak of (I hope!) but I am not an experienced traveller ... We have been shooting ideas around and the most recent is going on a cruise! We both love live entertainment, food and just sitting around with a book ... Questions: - will my Mum be able to get around a huge cruise ship with her walker? Are there many elevators? - would it be weird if we never left the ship and just enjoyed what it had to offer? I don't think my Mum would be up to going on excursions ... Tell me the good, the bad and the ugly!  |
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Post by mom on Feb 26, 2024 2:10:44 GMT
1. She will be just fine with a walker! There are elevators for her to use.
2. If you choose to stay on board, know that 1. no one else would ever know because the ship is *that* big. And 2. There will be others who choose not to leave the ship. No one will judge!
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Post by katlady on Feb 26, 2024 2:11:48 GMT
Cruise ships have elevators! You don’t have to get off the ship if you don’t want to. Just sit back and relax while everyone else is gone!!
Some stops may be difficult to get off. Once on an Alaska cruise, the ship couldn’t go all the way into the bay to dock. We had to transfer to a small boat. That would have been difficult for someone with mobility issues.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,698
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Feb 26, 2024 2:18:45 GMT
Just came back from a cruise and yes, the cruise ships are very accommodating for people in walkers. You may want to rent a scooter from the cruise ship. Much easier to get around in. Your travel agent can help with this. I've travelled with Royal Caribbean many times and Holland America once.
Not everyone gets off of the ship and there are usually deals at the Spa during days the ship is docked in port.
Always fly in the night or two before, depending on the weather where you live.
Make sure that your flight home is after 1:00 pm the day of the cruise or even stay overnight and fly back the next day.
Book your hotel room EARLY as the prices soar very fast & high on the days before cruise days.
Prebook your Uber to take you to the ship. Try to book the earliest time possible to board the ship. That way you can make your way around before everyone else comes on board.
The best sales for add-ons are Labour Day and Thanksgiving/Black Friday.
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Post by scrapmaven on Feb 26, 2024 2:53:26 GMT
I've done cruises w/canes, walkers and my electric scooter. Your mom will be just fine. They have plenty of elevators and the ships are easy to navigate. You can choose to stay onboard all the time or go and explore. There are excursions that are very disabled friendly. It is nice to get off of the ship and go exploring. We've done some fun things on land. Walker or not, there's no way that I would miss shopping in St. Thomas. I've been on some cool train excursions in both Alaska and Panama.
Alaska cruises lend themselves to an older crowd. The scenery from the ship is breathtaking. However, there are some excursions that your mom can handle, too.
There are non-stop activities onboard. So, you can choose to go ashore or stay onboard and play.
Warning to your mom: Bingo is pricey on the ship, but there is a lot of it. The casinos will likely have some of the latest slots, as well as table games.
Go to CruiseCritic.com and get reviews and suggestions for the best ships and itineraries for your mom and you.
Of course, you have a thread partner who has done many many cruises and will continue to do so. So, feel free to ask me anything. Fun stuff. I love to cruise.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,698
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Feb 26, 2024 3:12:53 GMT
Tell me the good, the bad and the ugly! The ugly is that there are a lot of people on a ship  , so it might get too *peoplely* for you but there are areas that are great to explore. On the larger Royal Caribbean ships, there is a Central Park, which is a great place to hang out in. The cafe there has great food and a Starbucks. The other ugly is that there are several Starbucks but they are pricey. I think that you can pre-purchase a coffee card. Otherwise there is always normal coffee, tea, water, unsweetened iced tea and lemonade to drink that is included with your cruise. Room service is available but only a Continental breakfast is free. Otherwise there is a flat fee per room. The good is that there is a casino & bingo and a great spa. There are many places to go to read and people watch. There are shows in the evenings and usually movies in the theatre. Some ships have a skating rink and the ice shows are wonderful. There is food available 24/7, there is a good selection for all meals and there are special restaurants if you want that too (at extra $$$). |
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Post by buddysmom on Feb 26, 2024 4:19:10 GMT
A cruise ship is the best way for a disabled person to vacation.
I have a disabled friend who cruises literally two-three weeks per month, is always on a cruise and loves it.
She doesn't get off at the ports but has a walker and can get everywhere on a ship.
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Post by Zee on Feb 26, 2024 4:24:52 GMT
A cruise ship is the best way for a disabled person to vacation. I have a disabled friend who cruises literally two-three weeks per month, is always on a cruise and loves it. She doesn't get off at the ports but has a walker and can get everywhere on a ship. I can't imagine spending money to be trapped on a ship with umpteen other people, 2-3 weeks per month. That sounds like a very expensive version of hell. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 26, 2024 15:38:27 GMT
What’s nice about a cruise is you can visit multiple places but only have one home base on the ship so you don’t have to constantly be packing and unpacking your stuff. Luggage is a hassle so only having to deal with it getting there and going home is great.
We’ve really enjoyed the cruises we’ve gone on for the most part. Not all cruise lines are created equal though. We didn’t like how we felt like we were being nickel and dimed to death on Norwegian with every extra thing costing extra money, and many of those things were automatically included at no extra cost when we were on a Disney cruise. We felt the service, entertainment and food were all considerably better on Disney too.
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Post by katlaw on Feb 26, 2024 16:06:04 GMT
A cruise ship is the best way for a disabled person to vacation. I have a disabled friend who cruises literally two-three weeks per month, is always on a cruise and loves it. She doesn't get off at the ports but has a walker and can get everywhere on a ship. I think for a senior or someone who would normally be shut in or isolated a cruise would be a great life. You can go enjoy being in a coffee shop, sitting outside, seeing a show, etc. All without having to go out. You can choose quiet places on the ship if you just want to read or have a coffee on your own. Go to an adult only spot and enjoy some company. Meet interesting people. And your room host takes care of your room. I think your friend has a great idea. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Feb 26, 2024 17:07:09 GMT
On my cruise there were lots of people in wheelchairs, walkers and so forth.. The cruise lines are very good with this! At least Royal Caribbean was. I'm sure they all are.
Lots of elevators. Get a room near one for less walking. We were about five doors down and it was perfect. Drawback is sometimes you have to wait for one to be available, depending on what is happening on the ship.
No one will know the difference if you take excursions or not. That is the time to take advantage of the ship.. Pools are empty, restaurants are empty... it is actually very nice!
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Post by workingclassdog on Feb 26, 2024 17:09:07 GMT
A cruise ship is the best way for a disabled person to vacation. I have a disabled friend who cruises literally two-three weeks per month, is always on a cruise and loves it. She doesn't get off at the ports but has a walker and can get everywhere on a ship. I can't imagine spending money to be trapped on a ship with umpteen other people, 2-3 weeks per month. That sounds like a very expensive version of hell. That is the beauty of choice. Some people it is heaven on earth.. some people won't step foot on a ship. |
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Post by angel97701 on Feb 26, 2024 21:09:48 GMT
On my one and only cruise vacation I had a lovely time. Pre-shop your excursions with your travel agent, you will get some better deals. Or even check Costco. As For Zee there are some who live aboard full time as it is less expensive than an assisted living facility! Your room is cleaned daily, your food is prepared for you, and you get to meet new interesting people and see amazing scenery. |
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,626 
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Post by valincal on Feb 26, 2024 21:20:46 GMT
I’ve been on many cruises with lots of my family and friends. We always have a good time. I think your mom would love it! If you’re flexible, I would definitely book at a time when the kids are in school. Or even try an adult-only cruise line like Virgin.
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Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,643
Location: Kansas City -ish
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Post by Anita on Feb 26, 2024 21:24:49 GMT
We are pretty avid cruisers, and my husband is disabled (walks with a cane). There are plenty of elevators, but just know that you will have a long wait for one on the day you disembark. The higher up the room, the longer you'll wait. As long as you're patient, it shouldn't be a problem.
Many people don't get off the boat in ports. There are activities for those who don't, or you can just chill. They really are about you doing whatever you want to since it's your vacation. My husband and I are going on a short cruise in May and we aren't going to get off the boat at one of the stops because we've been there and don't really have a grand desire to redo anything. In fact, the only reason for that trip is to hit the next status level before we go on our "big" cruise at the end of summer, because at the next status level, we get a free load of laundry done, and that's going to be a big help for a longer cruise.
If you're looking for a quiet voyage, don't get a room near elevators, and stay away from rooms right under casinos and dance floors or bars. If your idea of heaven is sitting and looking at the water or reading, get a balcony room. If you like a view, get a room on a high deck.
I think my biggest suggestion would be to figure out what is most important to you and plan your room accordingly. Do you want to hang out at the spa? Get a room near it. Do you want to be near the food? Get close to it without being so close you can hear the clattering. Just position yourself on the boat to get around easiest based on your needs. No matter what, though, you will walk a LOT.
As for when to book, it depends on how flexible your dates are. You can book typically up to 18 months in advance, but you can also get significant discounts on trips that haven't been filled up that are leaving in the next few months at Vacationstogo.com. That said, I also recommend booking through an agent with the cruise company you are interested in because they can sometimes get you things you can't get if you book on the site by yourself, and they can act as your advocate if something goes wrong.
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Post by Zee on Feb 26, 2024 22:11:04 GMT
On my one and only cruise vacation I had a lovely time. Pre-shop your excursions with your travel agent, you will get some better deals. Or even check Costco. As For Zee there are some who live aboard full time as it is less expensive that an assisted living facility! Your room is cleaned daily, your food is prepared for you, and you get to meet new interesting people and see amazing scenery. I suppose that's true but I don't ever want to spend literally half my time on a cruise ship. I can't imagine any scenario where that would be a good time for me. I'm not talking about one cruise, for fun, but the doing it 2-3 weeks out of every month. It does literally sound like what my personal hell would be. In addition to that, I'd have to work every day and my only shopping option would be Ikea. That's how I'd know that the televangelists were right after all. |
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Post by papersilly on Feb 26, 2024 22:41:07 GMT
we have a client who never leaves the ship. she says there are enough things to see and do on board that she doesn't need to leave the ship.
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Feb 26, 2024 23:33:03 GMT
What’s nice about a cruise is you can visit multiple places but only have one home base on the ship so you don’t have to constantly be packing and unpacking your stuff. Luggage is a hassle so only having to deal with it getting there and going home is great. We’ve really enjoyed the cruises we’ve gone on for the most part. Not all cruise lines are created equal though. We didn’t like how we felt like we were being nickel and dimed to death on Norwegian with every extra thing costing extra money, and many of those things were automatically included at no extra cost when we were on a Disney cruise. We felt the service, entertainment and food were all considerably better on Disney too. OMG- soooo true about Norwegian- Free at Sea my patootie. I didn't read all the responses, but I LOVE CRUISES!! 1: She will definitely be able to get around. There are tons of elevators, and other than at super busy points in the day/ship, there is tons of space for everyone. With that said, just go into knowing it's not a race and you're there to relax. Sometimes there can be waits (like going through the embarking/disembarking process.) If she does use a walker, the kind with the little built in seat might be nice. Also, like just about everywhere else, it's often possible for you to wait in the lines then she join as you get to the front- or often the ship staff will expedite her through, depending on how comfortable she is asking for help. I hope that makes sense? 2: TONS of people never get off the ship. (This is totally not me!) Many will tell you it's their favorite days of the cruise when most of the passengers are off buying trinkets and they have the pools etc without so many people! Also, if you want to go off for a little while she chills with a book, that's perfectly ok too!! Especially on non-tender ports, you can be off and back on in a flash once the herd gets off. 3: Things you didn't ask... you didn't say which cruise line, so,, very broad--- find out where the "adult" atriums are. They can be quite the haven. Buy the dining package. Book your specialty restaurants pretty much after you can log into the cruise line's app same with excursions if you were to do some.) You'll save a decent percent- and if the prices go down, you can always rebook it, and return your previous older version (this works on Norwegian, Celebrity and Royal. Haven't done it on other lines.) Most cruise line food has really gone downhill since covid. Just like every other industry they've used it as an excuse to drop services but not fees. Unless you're a (very) heavy drinker don't bother with the drink package. I find I really enjoy the "paid" tastings on some of the cruise likes. I did a sushi and sake on Royal's Symphony of the Sea, the cupcake decorating is fun! I've done wine tasting, sushi making. And I really really love any behind the scenes tours of the kitchens or bars. Even if you don't plan to get off the ship, check the availability of these things if they interest you. If you're going to book another cruise, there is usually alot of incentive to do it while on board. Carnival is actually a fun cruise line even though people love to talk crap about it (and Royal, Norwegian and Celebrity are too.) If you don't plan to get off the ship, book an itinerary with alot of port days (get the people off the ship!! Spa items are usually cheaper on port days for those that stay on the ship!) Speaking of such things, some lines have their own private islands. That's a great way to "get off the ship" while still having your food covered and not be concerned about being out of the country etc- not sure what reason she'd prefer not to get off the ship, but I could see that bothering my mom. There is often a library- if you like games, take a game onboard with you! The library while playing a game is a very very fun way to meet people. The shopping is usally a rip off on the ship lol Make sure you take your sunscreen etc. Not sure what your financial picture is, but it irks the living daylights out of me to pay $25-30 (I think we paid $45 last time on Royal!!) for the same sunscreen I'd have paid $8 for at Walgreens on the way to the port. Oh, and, rows and rows and rows of doors that look exactly the same can be a little overwhelming, especially at first. I'd suggest making a silly magnet (cheap and easy to do at CVS or Walgreens) to commemorate your trip and stick it on the cabin door. Once you know what cruise line/ship you're interested in, I'm sure there is lots of other insight folks here can provide! |
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Feb 26, 2024 23:43:49 GMT
Oh, I wrote a book above-- but I just wanted to add... Cruising is literally built for older folks And.... excursions aren't all... um... exciting. LOL Some are actually really really chill. Sunset catamaran cruise and whale watching in Cabo---- I'm looking at you!! |
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Post by 950nancy on Feb 27, 2024 4:24:06 GMT
Perfect way for her to get around. Enjoy!
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Feb 27, 2024 14:49:25 GMT
I took my mama and two of her friends on a cruise in 2016. They were all in wheelchairs getting through the airports and needed various accommodations on the ship. I was able to make arrangements on the ship for a rental wheelchair for my mother, a walker for another, and elevated commode seats for the bathrooms in both cabins. All the staff was so helpful, and we managed fairly easily. We even got off on a tender to one port and they were assisted quite ably by the cruise staff.
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Post by ntsf on Feb 27, 2024 15:47:40 GMT
take some covid tests with you.. we have gotten covid on the last two cruises we went on, though we were pretty careful.. and the paxlovid was $750. so sign up for travel insurance.
we like being at the front of the ship.. not too far from the elevators. we also like princess.. as a non party ship, but not boring either. has nice afternoon tea. and there are laundry rooms available.. throwing a load or two in is pretty cheap to do and you can pack lighter. we felt the food was fine.
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, so it might get too *peoplely* for you but there are areas that are great to explore. On the larger Royal Caribbean ships, there is a Central Park, which is a great place to hang out in. The cafe there has great food and a Starbucks.
